GOOD WORK – The Hoboken Housing Authority recently received two National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Agency of Awards of Merit in Housing and Community Development. Pictured here are Saul N. Ramirez, chief executive officer of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO); Eduardo Gonzalez, Hoboken commissioner; Carmelo Garcia, Hoboken executive director; Judith Burrell, Hoboken commissioner; Robert Davis, Hoboken Board of Commissioners vice-chairman, and Betsey Martens, president of NAHRO. (See brief)

The City of Hoboken has advertised for bids for the construction of the first phase of 1600 Park and Hoboken Cove. The work will involve the construction of a multi-use field with lighting as well as bleachers and leaning rails along the Park Avenue service road. In addition, the park will feature a rest room, dog run, sliding hill, picnic benches, trees and bike racks, according to a release from City Hall.

The conceptual master plan for the full park development is available at www.hobokennj.org/1600park.

Hudson County is expected to install a new traffic signal with pedestrian countdown timers at 16th Street and Park Avenue in the fall. For safety reasons, the signal is an essential element prior to the opening of the park. The construction of Hoboken Cove to the east of 1600 Park will be part of Phase 2 of construction, which is expected to take place in the spring of 2013. Additional phases of work, including the boat house and improvements to the waterfront, will require additional fundraising.

The city also advertised a bid for the construction of the Hoboken 9/11 Memorial. A rendering of the memorial is available at http://www.hobokennj.org/departments/community-development/open-space-acquisition-and-development/9-11-memorial/. Depending on the bid responses received, additional fundraising may be needed.

“I’m very excited to move these projects forward,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “I thank all the community for their input and working to arrive at consensus on these projects, and I thank County Executive DeGise, his Administration, and Freeholder Romano for working with us on the signal at 16th and Park.”

Responses for both bids are due by Sept. 11.

Hoboken voters will decide mayor/council election date this November

The Hoboken city clerk has certified over 1,800 petition signatures from Hoboken residents for two ballot questions designed to consolidate Hoboken’s municipal elections, according to a release from Vijay Chaudhuri, a leader in the movement to put the election change to a vote.

The ballot questions were proposed by the citizens’ committee “Vote Yes for November,” a group of residents who say they want to reform the electoral system in Hoboken.

If both initiatives are passed by the voters this November, Hoboken’s next municipal elections will be held in November of 2013 instead of this coming May, and the candidates receiving the most votes will be elected to office rather than facing runoff elections.

“Thanks to the outpouring of support from 1,800 residents who signed our petitions, Hoboken residents will get an opportunity to be heard on whether they seek to bring election reform to our city. We are confident that Hoboken’s voters will support these initiatives that will consolidate multiple elections, increase voter turnout, save taxpayers money, and reduce voter fatigue,” said Chaudhuri.

“If the two ballot initiatives are passed by voters in November, no longer will Hoboken voters have to suffer through an election year like 2009, when Hoboken voters had to vote in five separate elections in a single year. Municipal elections would now be held on a single date in November – the date when voters turn out for the general election,” said Sasha Conroy, another member of the “Vote Yes November” citizens’ committee.

If voters choose to move the Hoboken municipal elections to November, all future local elections will be held during November general election dates. That means that next year, Mayor Dawn Zimmer and her three council-at-large members will stay in office until next November instead of next May, giving them an extra six months in office until the next election.

Hoboken’s school board elections have already been consolidated with the upcoming November general election instead of in April as in years past.

Members of the public who support this proposal are encouraged to voice their opinions at the Hoboken City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Housing Authority receives awards

The Hoboken Housing Authority recently received two National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Agency of Awards of Merit in Housing and Community Development.

The first was for the Karate for Kids program, which offers young people an alternative to hanging out on street corners and getting into trouble. The Karate for Kids program provides exercise, instills discipline and offers youngsters a place to forge new friendships. Sensei Ray Rodriguez spends each afternoon training the young residents of the housing authority to defend themselves in an often unkind world and to have the discipline to achieve their life goals.

The second award was for the Men in Blue Program. This program allows law enforcement officers to live at the housing authority without qualifying. The officers provide additional security by simply living in the developments. They also perform regular building checks and develop relationships with the residents. “The staff at the Hoboken Housing Authority is constantly working to find new and innovative ways to support our residents,” said Executive Director Carmelo Garcia. “I am thrilled to have been recognized by NAHRO for these outstanding programs and I look forward to the new programs we are developing this year.”

HUMC hosting September events

Hoboken University Medical Center will be hosting the following events during the month of September:

“Legs for Life” screenings, Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Ambulatory Services on the 1st floor.

Please call (201) 418-2381 to register.

RE/MAX, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Team for fundraisers and giving for kids

Local RE/MAX Gold Coast Realty broker/owner Daniel Voehringer is celebrating a ‘Month of Miracles.’ In August the global franchise company raised more than $115 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since RE/MAX became a partner in 1992.

Voehringer took part in the Month of Miracles by providing ice cold water for agents and clients/customers in return for a $1 donation to CMN. RMGC will be coordinating events in the coming weeks for all to partake and raise funds/awareness for Children’s Miracle Network. In addition, RMGC is a Miracle Office, which means each agent donates a small portion of each commission check to CMN.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America, and all the funds raised locally support the nearest Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Voehringer is passionate about supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals because money donated goes to the treatment and care of local kids at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside.

“In my 17 years of owning RMGC I have never seen a more worthy and noble cause than to help a sick child, which is why we have been a Miracle Office since we opened our doors in ‘95),” Voehringer says.

To contact Voehringer and find out more about his services, call (201)795-5200 x316 or email (karen@hobokenproperties.com) [www.HobokenProperties.com]. For more information about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, visit www.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org.

Volunteer in Hoboken for ‘Mitzvah Day’

The United Synagogue of Hoboken will hold its annual Mitzvah Day community-service project on Sunday, Sept. 9. The event offers an opportunity to give back to the community and participate in service projects throughout the year.

Members of the synagogue community and the general public are strongly encouraged to sign up for an activity for a day of fun, camaraderie and fulfilling work that will have a lasting impact. Activities this year include work for the Hoboken Shelter and for the Emergency Food Pantry, a visit to senior citizens, a story-time and art project for children, “Coupons for Troops,” a nutrition and health activity fair at the Hoboken Housing Authority, a “Bigger and Better” social-action project for teens, a bone marrow drive, a cemetery clean-up and several other options.

The day will culminate in the synagogue’s annual “Welcome Back Barbecue.” People interested in participating should sign up as soon as possible.

A list of projects is here: http://hobokensynagogue.org/MitzvahDayProjects2012.php.

The online sign-up form is here: http://hobokensynagogue.org/MitzvahDayForm2012.php

For more information, please see the following link or contact the synagogue: